How to Avoid Collisions With Deer This Fall
Don't swerve! Expert deer crash prevention advice, what to do immediately after a collision, and states with the most animal collisions.
Be on the lookout for deer while you’re commuting or cruising to enjoy autumn’s colors. Insurance claims for collisions with animals rise significantly in the fall when deer are mating, with November having the highest claim frequency. October, November, and December made up 41 percent of all animal collision claims last year, according to the State Farm insurance company.
State Farm estimates that there were 1.7 million animal collision insurance claims for the past year, down about 100,000 from the year before. Of them, deer strikes accounted for 1.1 million claims.
How to Avoid Hitting a Deer
Slow down. Watch for deer, especially around dawn and between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., when they’re most active.
Be aware. Look out for deer-crossing signs and wooded areas where animals are likely to travel. If you travel the same route to and from work every day, you may find deer consistently grazing in the same fields. Make a mental note of when and where you regularly see the animals.
Be alert. If you see an animal on the side of the road, slow down. At night, when traffic permits, put on your high beams for improved visibility.
Brake, don’t swerve. Swerving to avoid an animal can put you at risk for hitting another vehicle or losing control of your car. It can also confuse the animal as to which way to go. Instead, just slow down as quickly and safely as you can. Your odds of surviving a collision are better when hitting an animal than when hitting another car.
Assume they have friends. “Where there’s one, there are usually more” often holds true. Deer travel in groups, so if you see one run across the road, expect others to follow.
Don’t rely on deer whistles. These are aftermarket devices that some drivers put on their front bumpers to scare off animals. But animal behavior remains unpredictable, even if you use one of these. State Farm advises, “No scientific evidence supports that car-mounted deer whistles work.”
Buckle up. A seat belt is your best defense for minimizing your risk in a crash. An IIHS study found that most of the people killed in animal-vehicle collisions weren’t wearing their seat belts. Motorcycle riders account for more than half the fatalities, and among that group, nearly half the riders who died were not wearing helmets.
What to Do if You Hit a Deer
If you hit an animal, move your car safely off the road and call the police or animal control. Don’t attempt to touch an injured animal. Photograph the scene, then call your insurance company when you get home. Damage from animal collisions is usually covered by auto insurance policies.
Repairs made necessary by crashes involving deer and other animals fall under comprehensive insurance, which also covers theft and physical damage from causes other than crashes.
States With the Most Animal Collisions
The states are listed in order of the likelihood of a driver hitting an animal between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, according to State Farm.
- West Virginia: 1 in 40
- Montana: 1 in 53
- Wisconsin: 1 in 58
- Michigan: 1 in 61
- Pennsylvania: 1 in 62
- South Dakota: 1 in 73
- Iowa: 1 in 76
- Mississippi: 1 in 77
- Wyoming 1 in 82
- Virginia: 1 in 82
Deer Safety Advice
CR explains what can be done to prevent an accident.
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